Nature at Swan Point

Birds of Swan Point

Swan Point is a sanctuary for birds and bird-watching enthusiasts alike. Over 150 species of birds have been sighted and recorded at Swan Point. Located along the shores of the Seekonk River, our estate is an especially popular place for bird-watching during the spring migration. For birds heading to northern nesting grounds, the forested grounds of Swan Point are a haven within an otherwise urbanized landscape.

The Seekonk River, the upper estuary linking the Blackstone River and the Narragansett Bay, hosts unique breeding and migratory birds. Here, birds stop to rest and replenish before continuing on their northward journey. We are confident that you would concur that having the opportunity to witness the birds at Swan Point is a privilege. As stated by the American Birding Association, “Everyone who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its environment and the rights of others.”

According to the Codes of Birding and Photography Ethics it is important to:

Promote the welfare of the birds and their environment.

Support the protection of important bird habitat.

Avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation.

Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites.

Before letting others know about the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area. Proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from the cemetery. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities.

Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.

Photography

PHOTOGRAPHY IS ALLOWED BY PERMIT ONLY. NO VIDEO OR FILMING IS ALLOWED.

BIRDING

ALL METHODS OF ATTRACTING BIRDS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. THIS INCLUDES TAPE PLAYING, PLAYBACK, PISHING AND ANY OTHER METHODS USED TO ATTRACT BIRDS.

In 1981, Swan Point’s Board of Directors commissioned Charles Wood, a noted Rhode Island ornithologist who was especially fond of Swan Point, to write a book, The Birds of Swan Point.In his first-person account, Mr. Wood describes virtually hundreds of species sighted at Swan Point over the years.

Horticulture

The rural cemetery movement of the 1830s coincided with the popularity of romanticized horticulture based on English landscape design which presented an idealized view of nature. These new “cemetery parks” usually included rolling lawns, a lake or pond, groves of trees, and recreations of picturesque architecture.

Thoughtful and farsighted leadership and careful maintenance have made Swan Point a celebrated garden cemetery.

One of the country’s first rural or garden cemeteries, Swan Point’s grounds were landscaped in such a manner as to give the appearance of a park. The dense growth of trees and underbrush natural to the hills and ravines along the Seekonk River was augmented by careful planting. In the early years, hundreds of trees and shrubs were carefully planted annually and supplemented with thousands of hardy bulbs. Native plants were stressed as well as exotic ornamental varieties and hybrids. Collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and hollies were particularly emphasized. Today, over 3,500 trees, flowering shrubs and plants lavishly adorn the cemetery grounds and bring beauty to the landscape during every season.

The official language for the Swan Point Cemetery web site is English. Please be aware that translation of our site’s content is an automated process powered by Google® to provide a basic understanding of our web content. Computerized translations are only an approximation of the web site’s original content. The translation should not be considered exact and in some cases may include incorrect language. Swan Point Cemetery is not responsible for the accuracy of any translation using this service.